I have read this newly posted article about the Filipino Diaspora at the Philippine Daily Inquirer today. It has a part more on defending the Filipinos for the blatant attack at the Desperate Housewives series. I am not defending any side on this story. First, I am a Filipino and on the other hand, I am not a fanatic of the show and I also don't think the remark was correct. But let us put it this way, simply to be a little aware of the reality.

Whose fault is it if the people around the world look at our (Filipino's) nurses in this manner as the conversation was delivered? Who in the first place have put dirt in the name of Filipino nurses? We all know the answer that it has something to do with the leak from Philippine Board of Nursing and the people related to the profession themselves, and yes, you are right, the it's the dirty who have put dirt on themselves. Of course, it is not a generalization and yes, it is painful to think that the whole profession was jeopardized due to the action of the few. It was really a BIG DIRTY SCANDAL!

It is a call for us Filipinos to change the "Easy Way"mindset where we want all to be achieved easily. As I have observed, most of us in the coutry have this "Isang Kahig, Isang Tuka" mentality (not to be understood literally as being the description for the poor) where we want the good things to be in the instant; where the future is risked for the sake of the present. It is evident in the way we choose our leaders where thos who gave out 500 pesos today is voted for at least three years offic; in the fact that our rivers are full of garbage without thinking that it clogs the drainage, causes foul odor, makes the surrounding dirty, causes diseases and very obvious, the floods; in bribing our officials today so we have our needed document or favor immediately giving a little start to the big whole nation of corrupts and corrupted. We can say that what each one of us does is only a little thing but if all do the same, it is as big as the whole nation. So please, let the change IT starts with YOU!


See this related note:

To the producers of “Desperate Housewives” and ABC:

We are writing to express concern and hurt about a racially-discriminatory comment made in an episode of Desperate Housewives on 9/30/07. In a scene in which Susan was told by her gynecologist that she might be hitting menopause, she replied, “Can I just check those diplomas because I just want to make sure that they are not from some med school in the Philippines.”

As members and allies of the Filipino American community, we are writing to inform know that this type of derogatory remark was discriminatory and hurtful, and such a comment was not necessary to maintain any humor in the show. Additionally, a statement that devalues Filipinos in healthcare is extremely unfounded, considering the overwhelming presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the medical field. Filipinos are the second largest immigrant population in the United States, with many entering the U.S. (and successfully passing their U.S. licensing boards!) as doctors, nurses, and medical technicians. In fact, the Philippines produces more U.S. nurses than any other country in the world. So, to belittle the education, experience, or value of Filipino Americans in health care is extremely disrespectful and plain and simply ignorant. Many of the hospitals in major metropolitan areas of the U.S. (and the world) would not be able to operate without its Filipino and Filipino American staff members.

As Filipino Americans and allies, we band together to ensure that this type of hateful message should not be allowed to continue on our television and radio airwaves. Given the recent amounts of media attention that has been given to Michael Richards (against African Americans), Isaiah Washington (against gays), and Rosie O’Donnell (against Asian/ Chinese Americans), it is ridiculous that this type of hateful speech made it through various screenwriters, the show’s producers, the show’s actors, and ABC itself.

We demand a public apology to the Filipino American community, and we demand the episode be edited to remove the ignorant and racist remark. We will not allow hateful messages against our community (or any other oppressed community) to continue.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned